Miss Otis Regrets She's Unable to Lunch Today

Ella, of course, is the definitive, but who else do you like?

There's an Ella YouTube but it's a vocal only, so I won't post it. I always find those disappointing.

Bette?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQnl4TX5wOE

Carmen McRae?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oE32ONYPwU

Bobby Short?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxD1DegO6ug

Or Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eLYCOXjq2s

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Didn't Langly perform this song for Phoebe on All My Children once?

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Yes, Ethel Waters is a serious contender for the best. I wish there were a YouTube.

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This song was one of the few Cole Porter songs NOT written for any show or performer- he wrote it to sing when asked to perform at parties. Can you imagine Cole Porter singing this in a fancy living room????

I was born too late.

And here's an anecdote from Charles Schwartz's Cole Porter: A Biography:

"It seems that Cole and Monty Woolley were driving in Manhattan one evening in the thirties, in an open car. They were cruising for some action -- a ‘f**king party,’ as they called it -- when they stopped for a light.

"Spotting a young, virile-looking sailor standing at the corner, they motioned him to come to the car. When he approached them, Woolley quickly spoke up and invited the sailor into the car. Taken somewhat aback by the tone of the invitation, the sailor retorted, ‘What are you, c**ksuckers?’

"Without batting an eyelash, Woolley wittily replied, ‘Well, now that the preliminaries are out of the way, why don’t you jump in the car and we can discuss the matter further.’"


Cole Porter: A Biography

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Updated On: 2/12/08 at 02:41 PM

Nat King Cole does a great version of this tune as well !

Oh, right--I forgot how much I love Nat King Cole's version!

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I thought that you meant that Bette DAVIS was singing it.

I do enjoy Bette Midler's version.

But, you HAVE to admit that if Bette Davis had sung it, it would have been a head-trip.

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**Hearing Bette Davis in my head doing a bizarre, but oddly definitive "Miss Otis"**

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Kirsty sang that?

I loved Bette Midler's version.

I have always loved Bette's version.

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Fred Astaire!

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